Synthetic-user startup Simile raises $200M at $2B valuation 5 months after $100M Series A
Add another member to the fast-and-furious AI unicorn club: Simile
The Download: US robot restrictions, and ICE’s DNA grab
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Trump’s AI protectionism has come for robotics —James O’Donnell Humanoid robots usually elicit more cringe than awe: They stumble, kick children, and despite advances are still worse at using their hands than my toddler. It’s…
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Montana’s plan to become an experimental medical hub just pushed forward
As of this week in Montana, any biotech company with an experimental drug has a clear path to selling it to consumers. Companies whose drugs have been through preliminary testing—sometimes in as few as 10 healthy people—can pay $12,500 to apply to a newly established review board for approval. Once its treatment is rubber-stamped, the…
Spotify launches ‘User notes’ to let users add memories to songs
Spotify says the new feature is designed to let users add personal captions to their favorite songs, such as noting why a track was added to a playlist or when they first discovered it
You Got What You Wanted, But Success Doesn’t Feel Like You Thought It Would. This Ancient Greek Paradox Reveals Why.
What if success stops feeling like success because you’re still chasing goals designed for a version of yourself that no longer exists?
How a Self-Published Vampire Romantasy Novel Took Over BookTok — and Made Its Author a No.1 Bestseller
Romantasy author Carissa Broadbent on turning “bad” first drafts into a bestselling career and her new novel “The Lion & The Deathless Dark.”
7 Crucial Tips for Building an Ecommerce Website That Sells
Building an ecommerce website is straightforward. Building one that consistently converts visitors into paying customers is considerably harder.
Okta buys AI security startup Permiso; source says for about $200M
The deal gives Okta identity threat detection capabilities as enterprises seek to secure AI agents and other non-human identities across cloud environments.
Tesla made its 10 millionth EV
The milestone means Tesla is halfway to accomplishing one of the four core product goals Elon Musk has to hit to unlock his full $1 trillion pay package.
When will fusion power startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems go public?
There are fresh signs that fusion power startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems will list in the next two to three years.
Meta says AI is making it easier to build new apps — and more are coming
Meta says AI is making it dramatically easier to build and launch new consumer apps, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg telling investors the company has more new consumer products on the way following a recent wave of releases for Facebook Groups, Marketplace sellers, Instagram, and gaming.